Research Article
Interest-Sharing Industrial Relations for Strengthening Firm Competitiveness
Dongguk University
Published: January 2018 · Vol. 22, No. 4 · pp. 121-149
DOI: https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.17287/kbr.2018.22.4.121
Full Text
Abstract
The business environment changes rapidly and considerably. So the business strategy that was used under stable environment is not appropriate anymore. Business strategy should be updated and innovated. This paper aims to develop strategies on industrial relations for improving firm competitiveness. But the strategies may be applicable regardless of union presence at workplace. The Moon, Jae-In government that started in 2017 tries to realize the pledges of president candidate. For example, the minimum wage in 2018 increased 16.4% to realize the pledge of 10,000 won in 2020 and ‘Job Creation Commission’ was organized as his first order as the President. Decent wage with good benefits and high job security is worker’s right as reasonable request. However, that demand can’t be guaranteed if the company is not under stable business condition. In these days, workers can not ask as they did in the past when the business environment was stable and secure. In the past several years, thousands of workers in shipbuilding industry left the companies involuntarily due to the business downturns. In banking and security industries, internet use and automation made so many workers left workplaces with ‘money for honorary retirement.’ So, from now, interest-sharing industrial relations is required. Management and workers must share both business downturns and business upturns. Especially during the business unturn, management and workers and labor unions together should prepare the business downturns in the future. This paper explains the strategy for interest-sharing industrial relations. At first, management ans labor unions should establish the labor-management council with mutual trust to discuss relevant issues. The issues include workplace innovation, training and development, wage determination system, and so on.
